Improvement in fence-posts



J. P. SNYDER.

Fence-Post.

No. 208,860. 'Patented Oct. 8.1878.

Ir -1- FEE- HIIIIIIIIIIHWN g mn- WiTrLE' E E E E3 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN F. SNYDER, OF CULPEPER, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT TO F. D. JOHNSON, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN FENCE-POSTS.

Specification fin-ming part of Letters Patent No. 208,860, dated October 8, 1878; application filed September 7, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN F. SNYDER, of Culpeper, in the county of Oulpeper and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fence-Posts; and I do hereby declare the. following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in fence-posts and it consists in a cast-iron base or foot, in one side or prong of which is made a recess, and in this recess is placed an adjustable foot, which can be extended to any desired degree, so as to make the post stand perfectly straight on the side of a hill, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

The accompanying drawings represent my invention, in which- Figures 1 and 2 are side elevations taken from opposite sides. Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross-section of the post. Fig. 4 is a similar view of one of the legs of the base.

a represents the castiron base or foot, which is cast in a single piece, and has the two prongs b, which may be made to extend outward any distance apart. Between the upper ends of these is formed the socket c, in which the lower end of the wooden fence-post d is secured in any suitable manner. In one of the prongs b is made a groove or recess, 6, and through the side of prong leading into the recess is a slot, g, the recess and slot being made to conform in shape. In this recess is placed the extensible foot h, which can be adj usted up into the recess so that its lower end does not project below the prong; or it can be extended downward to any desired distance,

and held in any position by means of a setscrew or any other clamping device, 07, which passes through the slot and screws into the foot.

By means of this extensible foot the post d can be always kept in a vertical position, whether upon the steep side of a hill or where the ground is undulating, by simply extending the foot downward far enough to rest upon the ground, as shown. It is not necessary that the foot should rest in a recess, as shown, as it may be made in the shape of a sleeve and pass up over the prong; or the foot may be simply clamped against the side of the prong without the recess, any other suitable guides being used.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. A base for a fence-post having an extensible foot, substantially as shown. 1

2. The base (I, having the two prongs b and socket c, in combination with an extensible foot, I1, and a clamping device, i, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand. 1

JOHN F. SNYDER.

Witnesses:

J AS. BARBoUR, GEO. S. KRoUsE. 

